Casing head



I June 9 A. G. HEGGEM CASING HEAD Filed June 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnuento c Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES.

ALFRED G. HEGGEM, 0F TULSA, OKILAHOMA.

CASING HEAD.

Applicatiqnfil'ed June 4,

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, ALFRED G. HEGGEM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county-ofTulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casing Heads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use-the same. v I

My invention relates particularly to the construction of casing heads for oil, gas or other Wells wherein valve means are eniployed for controlling the flow of fluid from the well; but certain features of the invention are generally and advantageously applicable to'all forms of valves of the plug typ One of the objects of the invention is to 'provide a device-of the character indicated of simple and compact design in which the relation of the body bore to the intersecting or main line bore is such that the size of the body bore may be reduced as compared with that necessary heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casing head having a valve'for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough and having means, such as a by-pass or relief vent, for reducing the fluid pressure below the valve when the latter is in its lowermost closed position.

A further object of the invention is to increase the effectiveness of the casing head by providing for the valve thereof a plurality of seats forming an annular space within which the valve rotates.

-A still further object of the invention is so. to construct a valved casing head that the main line passage therethrough shall form a virtual continuation of the bore of the Well casing Without substantial variations in diameter from top to bottom, thus avoiding difliculty in passing through the casing head such tools as swabs, trip spears, casing rippers or underreamers which by expanding may catch or look in the casing head if the main line bore of the latter is larger than that of the casing.

A principal feature of the invention, generally stated, consists in providing the easing head with a main line bore or passage having alined cylindrical portions disposed 1924. Serial No. 717,825.

contiguous to and on opposite sides of a rotatable cylindrical valve adapted to control the flow of fluid through said passage, the' axis of rotation of said valve being spaced from and disposed at an angle to the axis of the. alined cylindrical portions of the passage.

A further :feature of the invention consists in providing a casing head with a main passage and with a side outlet intersecting the main passage, incombination with a rotatable-cylindrical valve adapted to control the flow of fluid through said passage and outlet, the said side outlet being formed in a detachable portion of the casing head body provided with a cylindrical extension projecting into said valve to form a seat for the latter.

Other features of invention residing in particular forms of construction and advantageous relations of parts, will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention,

Figure l is, a vertical central section of a casing head embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is-a transverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 1. v

Figure 4 is a plan view of the casing head shown in the, preceding figures.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View of the cylindrical valve member.

Figure 6 is a detail view of member of the casing head.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of a the flange portion of a" casing head embodying a modi-.

fied form of the invention.

The casingrhead comprises a body preferably consisting of a member 1 and a flange or plate 2, which may conveniently be rigidly connected by means of stud bolts 3.

The body member 1 is provided With a vertically extending main line bore 01' passage 4 having axially alined'cylindrical portions 5 and 6, respectively, which are disposed on opposite sides of the intervening enlarged portion 7 of said passage in which the cylindrical valve 8 rotates. The ends of the main linebore or passage are preferably provided with screw threads, as at 9 and 10, respectively 3 adapted to enable the casing I desired.

The space 7 in which the valve 8 operates is formed as an open-ended bore of circular cross section and preferably cylindrical hav-v valve 0 ing its axis extending at right anglestothe axis of the main line bore 4 but spaced therefrom so as to ass the latter without intersecting therewith. The non-intersecting relation of the axis of the'main line passage 4 and that of the body bore 7 in which the rates enables the size of said last named ore to be made less than wouldbe required if the axes were intersecting; This will readily be appreciated upon consideration of the fact that, disregarding lap or seal of the valve 8, the transverse body bore 7 would haveto be such as to subtend four equal chords with the mainline bore or passage 1 if the axes of the bores 4: and 7 intersected; but by the eccentricity or spacing of these axes the body bore 7 is enabled to in tersect the main line passa e 4 in three chords disposed substantially in the form of an equilateral triangle. The result of this construction is to effect a relative increase in the length of the chord and, therefore to enable the diameter of-the transverse body bore 7 to be reduced while still preserving a length of chord corresponding to a circular 'valve segment 11 of adequate extent to shut off or close the main line passage 4. The valve member 8 is preferably provided in the edges of its segmental portion 11 with rope notches 12 which, as described in my PatentNo. 1,165,25 3, granted December 21, 1915, are adapted to receive a cable or line so as to enable the valve to be operated to control the flow of fluid through the casing head if such action should become necessary when drillin tools or other devices are suspended in t e well. At one end of the curved valve segment 11 the valve is formed with an integrally attached bearing ring 13, while at the other end of said segment said valveis preferably provided with "a head or plate 14 whose peripheral edge 15 bear against the adjacent face the body member 1. Projectin outwardly through an opening 16 inthe va ve body is a stem 17 integrally attached to the valve for operating the latter. The opening 16 for the valve stem may be suitaoly packed by a follower 18 secured to the b y member 1 by stud bolts 19. The outer end of the valve stem may be of hexagonal form to receive a suitable operating wrench and may also be provided with a transverse opening 20 for receiving a bar whereby the valve may be rotated; and said valve stem may also be provided at its outer end with an-axially threaded recess 21 suitable for is adapted to of the bore in main line bore or cooperating with the threaded end of a long piece of pipe or bar so as to enable the valve to be rotated from a distance if well conditions are such as to render it dangerous for the operator to operate the valve of the casing head in the usual way.

In the casing head embodiment of the invention a flange member 2-having an opening or passage 22 which communicates with the; main line bore or passage l is preferably employed to form a side outlet for the easing head. At the outer end of the passage 22 the flange member 2 may be interiorly threaded as at 23'to provide means for I permitting a flow line to be attached to the head. Instead of forming the side outlet passagei22 of circular cross section throughout, it may advantageously be gradually transformed inwardly so as to intersect the cylindrical main line bore in the form of a rectangular slot 22 of reduced width whose area is preferably the same or approximately the same as" that of the discharge end of the side outlet. Such a construction is of importance in that it facilitates 'thepassage of underreamers through the casing head.

' The inner side of the flange or cover member- 2 may advantageously be formed with an extension 24: of circular cross section which conforms to and engagingly overlaps the interior surfaces of the valve 8 so as to center said valve and afford seats or bearings therefor on opposite sides of the axis of the assage l ofthe body. The extension 24 o the flange 2, which in the present instance is-illustrated as of cylin drical form, is spaced from the neighboring portion of the body member 1 to .form an annular space within which the valve segment 11, the bearing ring 13, and the circular plate portion 14 of the valve operate. By this construction the valve segment 11 is enabled to. be provided with two seats,

one above and one below, thereby "increasing its effectiveness.

Forthe purpose of being able to reduce, if desired, the pressure below the valve when the segment 11 thereof is turned to close the bottom opening of the main line passage 4, the body member-1 may be provided .with means for by-passin the fluid around the valve and into the ow line. Such means may be formed as a channel 25 which is guarded by a screw-threaded plug 26 having a squared head 27 whereby the said plug may be turned to cause it to open or close the by-pass passage 25. If desired, the plug 26 maybe entirely removed so as to permit the well fluid to pass directly through the casing head at this point instead of passing around the valve before leaving the casing head.

In the modified form of casing head illustrated in Fig. 7 a threaded opening 28, com municating with the lower end of the main tion of mud fluid in line passage 4 and leading directlyout of the body member of the head enables the fluid pressure to be relieved below the valve, and also permits the performance of other operations which at times are advantageous. For example, the additional outlet 28 enables a separate flowing connection to be made and adjusted without disturbance by the opening of the head, such connection conveniently permitting the employment in a flowing well of a tubular device, commonly known in the art as a bean in serted in the flow line to provide a reduced flowing orifice maintaining a more or less equable pressure on the sand frequently found to increase the production of the well. Another advantage of the opening 28 is that it provides desirable means for the introduckilling gas wells or shutting off Water. Should the gas or oil become ignited an introduction of steam through the opening 28 would have a sulficient dampening effect to extinguish the blaze when under ordinary circumstances it would be impractical for an operator to. ap-

proach the casing head closely enough to close the same. A 'plug, such as 26, may normally'close this opening if no flow line or other piping connection leads therefrom. Other features of construction embodied in themodified form of easing head illustrated in Fig. 7 are'the same in form and function as,the parts heretofore described and accordingly corresponding reference characters havebeen applied thereto.

- It will be perceived that myinvention not onlyinvolves features-of construction which are especially advantageous when applied to casing heads, but also afl'ords means for improving valves of the plug type generally.

I claim 1. A casing head involving a body me'm berhaving a passage therethrough adapted to communicate with the casing of a well and a valve rotatably mounted in said body for controlling the flow of fluid through said passage, the axis of rotation of said valve extending at an angle to and bein spaced from the axis of the portions of sai passage which are contiguous to said valve;

2. A casing head involving a body member having a vertically extending passage therethrough adapted to communicate with thecasing of a well, and a valve rotatably mounted in said body for controlling the flow of fluid through said body, the axis of rotation of said valve being spaced from-the axis of said vertically extending passage and being disposed at an angle thereto;

3. A casing head involving a body member provided with a passage extending therethrough, said passage being-enlar ed between its ends to receive a valve men or and having portions on opposite sides of said enlargement disposed in axial almement,

and a valve rotatable with respect to said body member and extending into the enlarged portion of said passage,said valve I beingadapted to control the flow of fiuld through said passage, and the axis of ro tation of said valve being spaced from and disposed at an angle to the axis of said its ends, portions ofsaid passage adjacent I said valve and on opposite sides thereof be-' ing cylindrical, said valve constituting means for controlling the flow of fluid through.

said passage, and the axis of rotation of said valve'being spaced from and extending at an angle to the axis, of said cylindrical portions of said passage.

5. A casing head involving a body having a vertical passage therethrough and a side outlet communicating with said passage, and a rotatable valve mounted on said body and adapted to occupy a plurality of positions with respect to said passage, said valve when in one position being adapted to control the flow of fluid through said side outlet and when in another position being adapted to permit the free flow said side outlet, and the axis of rotation of said valve being spaced'from and disposed at an angle to the axis of saidvertical passage '6. A casing head involving a body having a vertical passage therethrough and a side outlet communicating with said passage, and a rotatable valve for controlling the of fluid through said passage andside flow outlet, said valve having a circularly curved. segmental portion adapted to extend across said therethrough, and the axis of said segmental portion of the valve being spaced from and extending at an angleto the axis of said vertical passage.

7. A casing head involving a body mem-lber havinga vertical passage therethrough,

a rotatable valve having a circularly curved portionadapted to extend across said passage to' control the flow of fluid through said body member, and means mounted on said body member and overlapping said valve within the, circularly curved portion thereof for centering said valve, saidmeans being provided with an opening forming an outlet communicatingwith said vertical pas sage. a

8. A' casing head involving a bodymember having a vertical passage therethrough,

passage tocontrol the flow of fluid a rotatable valve having a clrcularly curved portion adapted to extend across said passage to control the flow of fluid through said body member, and means secured to sald body member for centering said valve,

ill

said means overlapping said valve within said clrcularly curved portion thereof and engaging said valve on opposite sides of the c sectionand an intermediate portion of cir cular cross section who'se axis is spaced from and extends atan angle to the axis of said alined portions, a valve rotatably mounted in said intermediate portion, and a flange member secured to. said body member and having a circularly curvedportion whose axis coincides with that of said intermediate portion of said passage, said circularly curved portion of said flange member being in overlapping relation to said valve so as to center the latter from within on opposite sides of the axis of the alined portions of said passage, and said flange member being provided with an outlet communicating with said vertical passage.

10. A casing head, having a vertical passage therethrough and a side outlet communicating with said passage, a rotatable valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said passage and side outlet, and means operable at will for permitting fluid to by-pass around said valve when the lat-: 'ter is in position for closing said passage below said side outlet. 7

11. A casing. head having a vertical passage there through and aside outlet communicating with said passage, a rotatable valve for controlling the flow' of fluid through said passage and side outlet, said head being also providedwith a relief vent communicating with said passage below said valve, and means of fluid throughsaid relief vent.

12. A valve device involving a body member having a passage therethrough, said passage being formed with corresponding axially alined portions, and a rotatable valve extending into said passage and adapted to control the flow of fluid through said passage, the axis of rotation of said valve being spaced from and extending at an for controlling the flow fvertical passage, and a rotatable valve for angle to the axis of the alined portions of said passage.

13. A valve device involving abody member having a passage therethrough provided with a portion of circular cross section, and

a rotatable valve operating in said passage and adapted to control the fiow of fluid body member and operating in said passage to control the flow of fluid therethrough, the axis of saidcylindrical portion-of said passage and the axis of said cylindrical valve being spaced apart and extending at an angle to each. other.

15. A casing head involving a body having a vertical passage therethrough and a side outlet passage communicating with said vertical passage, and a rotatable valve for controlling the-flow of fluid through said passage and side outlet, the intersection of said passages being rectangular.

16. A casing head involvinga body having a vertical cylindrical passage therethrough and aside outlet passage communicating with said vertical passage, and a rotatable valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said passage and side outlet, the cross sectional form ofv said side outlet passage being rectangular at its intersection with said vertical passage.

17. A casing head involvin a body having 'a vertical passage theret rough and a side outlet passage communicating with said controlling the flow of fluid through said passage and side outlet, the cross section of said side outlet passage at its intersection with said vertical passage being of less width than height.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature. ALFRED G. HEGGEM. 

